The Castle of Kythira, a blend of various cultures with influences visible to this day, offers a view of the vastness of the sea, which is literally breathtaking. A landmark for the country of Tsirigo, as it is otherwise known. Kythera, is one of the must-see attractions for visitors to the island.
Kythira Castle: A magical place with breathtaking views
The impressive castle of Chora «oversees» its port from above, Kapsali and the endless blue, offering images that remain forever etched in the memory. It stands as the proud guardian of the settlement from the 13th century, and is also known as fortezza or «Eye of Crete», as its strategic location allowed it to observe the movement of ships in three seas at the same time: Ionian, Aegean Sea and Cretan.
Although it was built in various phases throughout history—sources indicate that a Byzantine fortress existed on the site as early as the 13th century—the largest and most important part of it was rebuilt by the Venetians in 1503 (including its façade).
Kastros Kythira: The most important points
One of its most characteristic features is the fact that both inside and around it there are several churches dating from 15th century.
Inside castle the temple stands out Panagia Myrtidiotissa, patron saint of the island, which until 1806 was Catholic and known as «Panagia ton Latinon» (Our Lady of the Latins), as well as the Palace of the Providents -the old castle headquarters- which now houses the Historical Archive of Kythira with documents dating back to 1560.
In this historically significant location of rare beauty, one can also observe a large cistern with domes and arches from the Venetian period, two-story half-ruined houses, a pyrotechnics warehouse, the Temple of the Pantocrator, as well as several cannons from the Venetian, Russo-Turkish, and English periods.
The moment that is sure to impress everyone here, the sunset time with the warm colors of the sun adding extra atmosphere to an already impressive space.
